We spoke with former band member Daniel Brown about playing Bryant-Denny Stadium again since he graduated in 2007.

Coti Howell: What instrument(s) did you play in the Million Dollar Band?

Daniel Brown: I was a performing member (snare drum) for three years and a member of the teaching staff (percussion instructor) my senior year.

CH: Did you know upon enrolling at UA that you'd be in the MDB?

DB: Absolutely.
I auditioned for the band before I graduated high school. The drum
instructor Mr. Flum traveled to hear me play and was very instrumental
in getting me down to Alabama. A beautiful campus, great communications
school and football made UA an easy choice for me.

CH: Do you have a favorite band memory?

DB: One Saturday afternoon game my junior year, myself plus 15 various other MDB members were standing on the sidelines before the game. We were watching then-QB Brodie Croyle warm up when the ball he was throwing went astray and rolled within feet of me. I immediately spread both arms out as if I was holding my friends back from a fight and said, "Guys...I got this one." With my snare drum on and in full uniform, I swaggered a few steps forward to lean down, pick up the ball and hand it back to our fearless QB. When I bent over, all in one motion, my drum fell off, my uniform unbuttoned and my shako (band hat with the feathers) slipped down over my eyes. I still managed to hand the ball to Mr. Croyle by looking down my nose to see out from under my shako. He smiled, grabbed the ball and said, "Appreciate it" while shaking my hand. I turned around to see all my friends dying laughing, and all I could say was, "Roll Tide, y'all." We still tell that story today.

CH: How did this reunion come about for you?

DB: I was recruited by a fellow friend who marched the same time I did. She pitched it to me and said, "The band is getting back together!" and at that point I knew I was already going to be in town for the game and there was no way I could be in the stadium and not be on the field with all my friends again. So I couldn't say no.

CH: What exactly will you be doing on Saturday?

DB: I'll be filling the familiar role of Co-Head of Shenanigans with my friend and fellow Alabama alum Kevin Geis. Our goal is to have all 110,000-plus people watch us two on the field. The MDB is there to entertain and get people excited about Alabama football. 110,000-plus people enter Bryant-Denny every Saturday with one goal: To win. Myself and friends plan on winning with the current MDB and over 350 alumni.